Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, Preview and Odds - 02/15/2024

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Thursday, February 15, 2024

Venue:  Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -110 Lightning -110; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -110 Lightning -110; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -110 Lightning -110; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Colorado Avalanche:  33-17-4 (2nd place, Central Division)

Tampa Bay Lightning:  29-20-5 (3rd place, Atlantic Division)

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Colorado Avalanche:  5-4-1 last 10

Tampa Bay Lightning:  7-3-0 last 10

The Avalanche are entering this game with 70 points, a 33-17-4 record overall, and they are 13-12-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Washington Capitals in their last game, winning that one on the road 6-3. Artturi Lehkonen led the team in goals scored with 2 while Ross Colton, Mikko Rantanen, Miles Wood, and Devon Toews each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Artturi Lehkonen, Bowen Byram, and Nathan MacKinnon each led the team in assists with 2 while Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Devon Toews each led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Alexandar Georgiev was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 27 shots with 24 saves and a .889 save percentage. Their offense has scored 202 goals this season averaging 3.7 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 172 goals against them allowing 3.2 goals per game.

The Lightning are entering this game with 63 points, a 29-20-5 record overall, and they are 17-5-3 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Boston Bruins in their last game, winning that one on the road 3-2 in a shootout. Erik Černák and Nikita Kucherov each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel each led the team in assists with 1 while Nikita Kucherov led the team in shots on net in that game with 6. Andrei Vasilevskiy was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 38 shots with 36 saves and a .947 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 185 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 177 goals against them allowing 3.3 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Lightning listed as a pick 'em in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Lightning have looked good in their games this season with their 29-20-5 record overall which has them surging up the standings lately, now in 3rd place of their division in the East and holding down a true playoff spot. They have also looked a lot better on home ice this season with their 17-5-3 home record. Meanwhile, the Avalanche have also looked really good in their games this season with their 33-17-4 record overall which has them in 2nd place of their division in the West with one of the best records in the entire NHL. They are coming off a win against the Capitals in their last game, but they just haven't looked as good in their road games this season with their 13-12-4 road record. They haven't been great in their games lately either with their 5-4-1 record in their last 10 games while the Lightning have been getting really hot lately, going 7-3-0 in their last 10 games. They are also coming off a shootout win on the road against the Bruins in their last one so they have a lot of momentum on their side here with the way they have been rolling over the last week. The Lightning have looked better than the Avalanche over the last week and they have a clear advantage on their home ice where they have looked a lot better all season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Lightning to win this game. 

Avalanche Lightning Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, February 15, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Lightning 3 Avalanche 1.

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Colorado Avalanche: 159-85 (+13.7 units) on the moneyline in all games. 51-24 (+10 units) on the moneyline off a road win. 80-41 (+15.5 units) on the moneyline after playing a road game. 18-12 UNDER after 3 consecutive non-conference games. 14-6 UNDER after allowing 3 goals or more in 4 straight games. 

Tampa Bay Lightning: 19-22 (-8.4 units) on the moneyline off a win against a division rival. 43-36 (-11.3 units) on the moneyline after a 2 game unbeaten streak. 8-4 UNDER after a 2 game unbeaten streak. 12-7 UNDER after scoring 3 goals or more in 2 straight games. 5-1 UNDER after a close win by 1 goal in their previous game.

Colorado Avalanche:  L. O'Connor (RW) Ques Thurs - Lower Body. V. Nichushkin (RW) Out indefinitely - Personal. P. Francouz (G) out for season - Groin. G. Landeskog (LW) out for season - Knee.

Tampa Bay Lightning:  M. Sergachev (D) Out indefinitely - Leg. B. Seabrook (D) out for season - Shoulder. L. Brown (C) Out indefinitely - Undisclosed.

“They know that their best chance at having success is not just how competitive they are, but it’s also being connected as a group and playing with the right amount of detail. There’s a predictability to it, but it allows them to play fast, be highly effective — that sort of wolfpack mentality where they’re outworking some of their opponents and they’re connected and can talk and they’re in great support of one another.” - Jared Bednar after his team’s win against the Capitals in their game on Tuesday.

“Anytime you see a guy play a thousand games, that’s an incredible milestone for anybody. He plays hard, and he’s won, he’s played Olympics and World Cups and all those things. So, phenomenal player, and he’s definitely got a lot of respect around the league, that’s for sure.” - Brayden Point after their win against the Bruins in their game on Tuesday.

LW Drouin, Jonathan

C MacKinnon, Nathan

RW Rantanen, Mikko

LD Toews, Devon

RD Makar, Cale

G Georgiev, Alexandar

LW Stamkos, Steven

C Point, Brayden

RW Kucherov, Nikita

LD Hedman, Victor

RD Raddysh, Darren

G Vasilevskiy, Andrei

Points: N. MacKinnon (87)

Goals: N. MacKinnon (32)

Assists: N. MacKinnon (55)

GAA: A. Georgiev (2.94)

Points: N. Kucherov (90)

Goals: N. Kucherov (34)

Assists: N. Kucherov (56)

GAA: A. Vasilevskiy (2.76)

Coaches:

Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar (8th season)

Tampa Bay Lightning: Jon Cooper (12th season)